'Forceful plantation': Locals in Bara uproot saplings over land dispute
PTI MNA's plantation drive marred as locals uproot saplings, accuse him of forcefully planting trees on their land
BARA: Locals of Mandi Kas area of Khyber Agency'sBara on Sunday uprooted saplings from aKhyber Pakhtunkhwa lawmaker's plantation campaign, claiming they were "forcefully planted on private land".
Chaos ensued immediately after PTI lawmaker Iqbal Afridi's campaign — part of the10 Billion Tree Tsunami initiative being commemorated on theTiger Force Day — concluded and residents of the area arrived at the site to remove thenewly-planted trees.
One of the men who uprooted dozens of plants said the drive had been "forcefully" carried out on "private land" belonging to the locals.
In comments shortly afterwards, MNAAfridi admitted that the plantation campaign had been carried out on private property.
"The locals were angry over the unauthorised tree plantation campaign," the lawmaker said over telephone. "We're trying to negotiate with them."
However, Deputy Commissioner Khyber Mahmood Aslam said there was dispute between two groups over land owned by the Sipah tribe. "One of the groups gave permission forthe plantation drive; the other uprooted them," he said.
Aslam added that authorities were reviewing the situation in order to proceed with legal action over the matter.
KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, on the other hand, has taken notice of the incident and ordered action against those responsible for uprooting the newly-planted trees.